Five Steps to Prep Your Garden for Spring

Now is the perfect time to start prepping your garden for those spring and summer blossoms.

We know what you’re thinking, “but I don’t know the first thing about gardening!”

Luckily, you don’t have to have a green thumb to have a beautiful garden. Aside from watering your plants diligently, making sure you have planned and prepped your garden effectively will make a huge different. And it will get you one step closer to have the garden of your dreams.

Step 1: Lay it out

First things first, you need to have a plan. Know which plants you want to have in your garden and which ones work best in your area. If you want blooms all year long, consider planting a mix of annuals and perennials. Also, where you put your plants is important. Arrange them by height so the bigger plants don’t block the sunlight from the smaller plants and make sure they are spaced far enough apart that their roots don’t get tangled.

Step 2: Clean it up

Chances are, you probably didn’t do very much garden maintenance during the winter months. Which means that your garden is probably filled with dried leaves and debris. Start by clearing all of this out and cutting back any old/dead growth on your current plants. Remove any plants you no longer want in your garden and give yourself a completely clean slate to work from.

Step 3: Prep your soil

After you’ve cleared your garden, it’s time to get to work on the soil. Loosen it up with a garden hoe or fork, removing any rocks or dead roots that may be lying around. This will help dry out and warm up your soil, which will, in turn, allow the roots of your plants to penetrate the soil more easily. Sprinkle fertilizer on top for good measure.

Step 4: Prep your tools

A gardener is only as good as the tools he or she uses, so make sure that your tools are in tip top shape. Wash them with soap and warm water and pat them dry. Then, if needed, sharpen them. Taking the time to take care of your tools will help preserve them and save you money in the long run.

Step 5: Keep it up

Once you have planted your garden, it is important to maintain it. Make sure you are tending to your plants regularly, keeping an eye out for anything that may keep them from maturing, i.e. insects, weeds, lack of sunlight, etc. One of the best things you can do is add mulch to your garden in late spring. This will help hold down weeds while retaining water for long summer days. Then it will break down over the fall and winter months and add much-needed nutrients to the soil.